Juliet stretches - January 16, 2014In this 4 ½ minute video from January 16, 2014, Juliet is sleeping facing away from the entrance, which is a little unusual. Is it just that she will sometimes do that or was she avoiding the snow that was blowing in? Only 1.7 inches of snow fell, but wind speeds 17 miles per hour with gusts to 25 mph blew it into her den, turning her hind quarters white.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0GjJ4gpfNk
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/116620861
When she arose, I thought I saw a swollen, visible vulva, showing she is pregnant and nearing parturition.
She turned to the entrance to lick fresh snow directly in front of the camera. The crunching sounds near the end are likely her eating old crusted snow or ice.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center